Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-30
words, neatly rrinted--ac Charley Coils.

! stared blankly at Twistleton. What
did II mean +? Twisileton was shaking
yisibly.
"Do you believe in gnosts?" he
asked anxiously.
Certainly not, - / replied.
"Ah" sighed l'wistleton, and added
sententiously: "'Therc are more things
in heaven and earth Than are dreamt OF
in your philosophy. This was the
only quotation / ever heard him utter
that did not como from the law reports
| believe he fsncied il was a phrase he
had invented in his early youth when
he first began r. believe in ghosts.
of you don't i, 'icve in ghosts, who
wrote that message on my type
writer ?"
Twistleton's manner was very impress
sivc. felt like a witness committing
perjury.
81 tel you I found it this morning
when + went TO write letter Just be-
fore breakfast Who wrote it 2" he
shouted. "Who wrote it ] will
know"
Perhaps Foss. suggested.
He has not been here and cannot
use the typewriter.
had heard him say so, but did not
believe il. Foss was afraid of over
working himself, and so did not choose
TO learn it. but any fool could use it if
he liked TO learn. My opinion was that
Foss could use il. He was like the
monkeys, who, as the negro said,
could talk if they would, but knew if
they did they would be made to
work"
"How about the laundress ?" / sug-
gested
"Ah the laundress, repeated Twis-
Teton, thoughtfdlly "the laundress, "
SO Mrs. Buttick, the laundresss, was
sent for when Foss came in but she
denied all knowledge of the typewriter
or the writing, making a new sugges-
ton. which did not. to our thinking,
much advance the solution of the mys-
terry, and that was that the culprit was
the cat
at is a message" said Twistleton
| mysteriously: ga message"
Nonsense !" / said. "Some fellow
has styolled in and written the name for
fun"
"Funl" cried Twistleton indignant
". Fun" And then more quietly:
"No, 1 am sure of it it is message"
Very little of Buncombe UcrSus
Badger could / get into Twistleton's
head that day. Plans and specifica-
tons he seemed not to understand the
seductive literary style of the affidavit
had no charm for him. He could only
gaze at the paper il his hand, and muir
muir ever and anon, "a message
saw it was best to humor him, and
at my suggestion the typewriter was
locked up that night, and he took the
KEY with him into his bedroom. We
had had rafting good dinner together,
much better spirits.
of the ghost comes tonight he
won't be able to get at the typewriter,
anyhow" / said, laughing.
"Hush, / don't know, replied Twis-
Teton, solemnly. ut is no testing
subject"
| went my way, wondering how n
man with Iwistleton's practice could
believe in ghosts, and who the deuce
had written Charley Colston's name on
the typewriter.
The next morning | walked down to
Twistleton's directly after breakfast. |
found him to be in the widest imagina-
bic condition. He had taken every
precaution, locking up the typewriter,
placing the key under his pillow and
yet, here was the message, as he called
it. printed in clear, faultless style
"Charley Colston. He is with your
wife Charley Colston. ="
81 must 60. must go. Oh Pen
rose, what shall / do?" he cried i'll
agony as ] entered the room.
"Go?" | said; "and who is to lead
in Buncombe Ucr8us Badger?"
He was silent, and buried all of his
face, except his whiskers, in his hands.
Even his hands, large and uncouth as
they were, could not contain his whis-
kers.
"Think of Writson and Clame.
What will they say?" l urged, seeing
the effect that my words had on him.
"They rely on you in this case.
The name of this eminent firm
seemed to calm Twistleton to some ex-
tent.
"My dear Penrose," he said in
trembling voice, "This is message |
am sure of it. But will DO my duty
l will stay by my clients"
Twistleton, you speaklikea Queens
counsel and a man of honor" / said,
Selling him by the hand, proud oshake
it. of it is a message, " L added, to
humor him, cit will come again to-
night. will tell you what we will do.
We will watch the typewriter all night.
Twistleton wrung my hand with
gratitude at this suggestion of mine and
calmed himself. / made him eat some
of his cold chop and sent for some
brandy and water for him, instead OF
the tea, which had already stood in the
teapot for more than an hour. Then
endeavored to coach him i'll Bun
combe Uersus Badger, but with
small success. Then we went over
to the Appeal Court, in which
| took my seat; for, though
/ was not briefed in the case, | had no
thing else to do, and was interested in
seeing how Twistleton got on with 1t.
He was very able at picking up case
as he went along, and the Court OF
Appeal stood greatly i'll awe OF him. !
had never seen him as nervous as he
was to.dav--nOt even on his wedding
day-and l was quite frightened for
him.
Lord Usher Nj. r., supported by
Smugg, l.. j., and Summerbosh, Il. j.,
formed the court. Twistleton came IN
late he had been at a consultation. As
he entered ] heard two solicitors clerks
say to each other:
"Who is that with the whiskers "
"Twistleton, Q. C. he has the big
gest practice at the bar"
" He looks like boiled owl, sug-
gested his companion.
Drinks, | believe" was the reply.
This was horrible, for Twisleton was
follower of Prebendary Falutin, the
great teetotaler.
But certainly Twistleton had dissi-
pated look this morning. His eyes
,.,,1a,r l,.o